FD bosses last week confirmed that 'up to a dozen people' could be made redundant but declined to specify how badly public affairs would be hit.

PRWeek has now learned that the agency plans to lose four people from its 14-strong public affairs arm, previously called LLM. Only MD Simon Elliott has definitely been earmarked for safety, according to insiders.

The agency has also drawn up plans to put Tony Danaher, MD of FD Tamesis, in charge of what remains of the public affairs team. Under the new blueprint Danaher would become MD of a new corporate division, comprising both the corporate and public affairs teams. Danaher's new division would also include health - 'everything but financial', according to one insider.

The turmoil affecting the public affairs team comes weeks after the agency announced it was dropping the LLM name from its public affairs arm. It also comes on the back of a number of staff departures and account losses. Earlier this year, the agency lost its Orange account to Open Road while key figures to leave in the past 18 months include LLM co-founder Jon Mendelsohn and MD Craig Leviton.

Last month, it also emerged that senior VP Sean McKee had quit the agency after seven years without another job lined up.